Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has expressed disappointment that the site of a new hospital facility in the midwest will be in Limerick, leaving people living in parts of Clare more than an hour away from emergency care.
It comes after yesterday, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed the acquisition of the 44-acre site in Raheen, which is 2km from UHL, which will be turned into a new hospital.
The new hospital campus will be built on the site to relieve pressure on UHL in Dooradoyle and it will be one of the largest hospital campuses in the country.
The Minister said the “really important strategic site” is a 28-minute drive from Ennis, Co Clare and a 28-minute drive from Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the Clare TD said the site being located close to University Hospital Limerick will help to alleviate pressure on UHL but added that “something major has to be done for Clare”.
“It alleviates pressure from UHL, don’t get me wrong, but for many people in Clare, the fact is that more than 40% of our county still find themselves living well more than an hour away from this hospital environment.
“So, we’re the most peripheral part of the country in terms of access to healthcare. I suppose that’s where the mixed feelings lie,” he said.
Cathal Crowe called for more services to be added to Ennis Hospital (file image)
Deputy Crowe added: “There’s a lot of people in west and north Clare bitterly disappointed that while there is a hospital and that is good, that it won’t be in our county and that it’s still quite peripheral for what their needs would be.”
He called for an expansion of the services offered by Ennis Hospital to help address the needs of people in the county.
“My real ask to the Minister, and I know there was big news yesterday and it’s a multi-million-euro investment in the region, but I do think there needs to be something major done now for Clare.
“The battle to deliver better healthcare in our county hasn’t ended,” he said.
Deputy Crowe added: “It’s only begun if you ask me and I think even simple things like better ambulance care and an air ambulance is going to be needed.
“But Ennis General Hospital can offer way, way, way more and we just can’t be in this incessant situation where we’re too far from accidents and emergency care.”